Top 10 Healthy Foods That Are Harmful To Eat At Night

It's best to try to give your body  time to digest before going to bed, and eating too late can make you feel too full when you're trying to sleep comfortably. However, it happens and sometimes the days are long and you have to eat dinner right before bed or you might be hungry for a midnight snack. (And it's better to eat  something than try to  sleep with a rumbling stomach!) That said, some foods are better than others before bed.

Some foods help increase melatonin levels to help you sleep, while others can help keep you  awake.
Worried about these sleep disruptors?
Be careful with these 10 foods that can keep you awake longer than you want and make some healthy choices instead.

Top 10 Healthy Foods That Are Harmful To Eat At Night

1. Tomatoes
2. Cheeseburgers
3. Donuts
4. Chocolate
5. Dried Fruit
6. Spicy Foods
7. Pizza
8. Steak
9. High-sugar cereals 
10. Chips

1. Tomatoes 

For people with acid reflux problems (or women who experience this temporarily during pregnancy), tomatoes and other acidic foods can cause pain and esophageal discomfort as you stretch,
Enjoy them earlier in the day, when you wake up, and remember to eat them with other non-acidic foods to balance  your stomach's response.

2. Cheeseburgers 

Cheeseburgers (like all foods) can be enjoyed occasionally as part of a healthy diet, but late at night is not is the best time to enjoy it.

Excess saturated fat can slow gastric emptying, causing food in the stomach and blood flow to flow there when you try to fall asleep,” says Jones.
This can cause the body's hormones to shift toward digestion and absorption, instead of sleep.

3. Donuts

READ ALSO » 5 Things That Deworm The Body Naturally & Flush Out Harmful Worms

Save your occasional donut to eat with an omelet in the morning (good protein!) or as a special treat. This food is both fried and high in sugar, which can cause digestive upset and blood sugar reactions in some people, 
Do you remember this thing called the sugar rush? This is definitely not the best choice before bed.

To satisfy your nighttime sweet tooth, turn to natural sources of sweetness like fruit, lightly sweetened herbal tea (caffeine-free), or whole-wheat bread with peanut butter and honey.

4. Chocolate 

While it's a favorite evening snack for many people, chocolate contains caffeine, Caffeine can be stimulating so if you are sensitive avoid it. Many people choose dark chocolate because it has less sugar and more antioxidants, but it's also higher in caffeine, so people who are sensitive to it may have trouble sleeping if that's when they choose eat it.

5. Dried Fruit

Dried fruit is high in fiber and natural sugars, both of which can lead to an overactive digestive system near bedtime. Fiber has  many amazing health benefits, but when you eat dried fruit late at night, you could be getting too much fiber in too soon, which can lead to gas and bloating that can keep you from having enough sleep at night.
Instead, limit your intake to small amounts of fresh fruit, such as a small apple or a cup of berries.

6. Spicy Foods 

Go mild when close to bedtime as spicy foods, like hot chili peppers and certain sauces and condiments, can be more acidic and lead to digestive discomfort. Plus, if you have acid reflux, it may act as a trigger, making it hard to sleep.

Spicy foods may also exacerbate symptoms of IBS, so if you have a sensitive stomach, it's better to enjoy spice in moderation during the day and avoid it at night.

7. Pizza 

This is a doozy for quality sleep: acidic tomato sauce, high-fat cheese and refined bread might leave your tummy will be rumbling when yo go to lay down. 

READ ALSO » 5 Anti-aging Foods You Should Eat When You Are Over 40 Years Old

Don't get us wrong, pizza is absolutely delicious and if you do end up eating a slice or two close to bed, go with a healthier thin-style crust (like a cauliflower or whole-wheat crust), opt for light vs. heavy cheese if possible and ditch the marinara sauce for something light, like an olive-oil based sauce. Or opt to enjoy pizza just the way you like it earlier in the day, giving yourself a few hours to digest before laying down.

8. Steak 

If you stick to bite-sized portions, steak and vegetables actually make for a healthy bedtime meal. However, if you're eating a giant 22-ounce steak in a restaurant, be wary. All that meat will stay in your stomach and make it difficult for you to fall asleep because you feel too full.

It all comes down to having a  good diet for your body by enjoying meals rich in protein and fat (doesn't leave you hungry but doesn't fill you up either). If you're craving a nutritious meat-based snack, try a serving of jerky or this fun  plant-based beet alternative.

9. High-sugar cereals 

Eating complex carbohydrates like oats (try a  bowl of fruit topped with quick oatmeal) before bed can help with sleep.
But any cereal, cereal, muffin or granola that's high in sugar will cause irritation, making it harder to sleep.
Avoid  high-sugar cereals and instead look for ones with less sugar  and some fiber to help them  digest more regularly and keep your blood sugar  more stable, which can can help you get better sleep.

10. Chips 

Chips you'd buy in a bag at the store might not be the best option for a midnight snack. In a study published in the journal Frontiers in Psychology, researchers found that high-fat foods, like chips, led to nightmares, so not only will you struggle to fall asleep quickly but also you might wake up in the middle of the night from a not-so -pleasant dream.

Instead, go for homemade popcorn to get the crunchy fix you're looking for (plus, you can customize the flavors to your liking).